Ca_V1.3 L-Type Calcium Channels Increase the Vulnerability of Substantia Nigra Dopaminergic Neurons in MPTP Mouse Model of Parkinson's Disease.

ABSTRACT: Mechanisms underlying the selective vulnerability of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) over those in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) to degeneration in Parkinson's disease (PD) remain poorly understood. DA neurons of SNpc and VTA are autonomous pacemakers but pacemaking in SNpc but not in VTA is accompanied by calcium influx through L-type calcium channel, Ca_V1.3 contributing to increased intracellular calcium and hence to cell death. Ca_V1.3_42A, an alternatively spliced short variant of Ca_V1.3 has increased calcium influx. We, therefore studied the role of Ca_V1.3₄₂ (full-length channel) and Ca_V1.3_42A in mouse SNpc in PD pathogenesis by quantifying mRNA levels of Ca<

SUBMITTER: Verma A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6978652 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature